More Clues

The week has just gotten away from me and I have a terrible cold, so I haven't had a chance to write a full post on my little project yet.

But, in the meantime here are a few more clues to keep you going. All will be revealed soon! I promise!

Granny Knot vs. Wreath Knot

Now that I have my lovely new Birthday shoes (see: New Shoes), the question that begs to be answered is: Granny Knot vs. Wreath Knot?

After seeing this video, I think I will never go back... no more double knots for this little lady. You have to wait to the end too see what I am talking about, but it is worth it!



P.S. If you do not have Instapaper you should definitely get it, I have become an Instapaper junkie for those times I don't have time to read what I want, I can instantly save it and I can then, go back to it at a later time or date. Now that, is just happiness!

P.S.S. Instapaper is not paying me to advertize for them, I just like their product!

Forest & The Sling

Meet Forest. Not the trees and flora but my friend who came by the Luck Cabin for a visit. A true local mountain guy who is the spawn of Appalachian people of many generations past ---> and who was super sweet enough to make me my own handmade sling (like the girl uses to hunt with in Clan Of The Cave Bear!) He made the sling from upcycled leather of an old wallet and hemp twine, woven so tightly it has a spring to it.

Forest brought his sling too and showed me how to use mine...
Only issue was, I smashed my finger (on my right hand) last week between two huge rocks I was moving around to make a garden bed --- so he had to teach me how to sling rocks with my left hand.
It wasn't all that easy, but the hardest part really is to not be afraid to peg the other human standing nearby with a fast flying rock. Since it is a weapon that can actually kill things/break things.... mine did not exactly the sound barrier and making whipping noises though like Forest's did...
But I did get the hang of it, and slung a few straight shots!
Then with a little team effort we took apart the back of my GMC Jimmy because the back hatch wasn't closing anymore, and i was being choked out with car exhaust when driving....... (freaking gross) --- we didn't fix it 100% but we got the hatch to close again! yay.
AND we looked at plants around the cabin and in the woods. Remember how last week I saw this plant and asked if it might be a type of trillium... it's definitely not.
But it's "Spanish Plantain".
This next one looks just like mint! I think it might be the native mountain mint but it has a real strong herb smell similar to more of a bergamot, oregano type scent... Forest ate some of it and said it had a mint after taste. But I am pretty sure I saw him spit some out after ;)
Thanks Forest for coming to visit me ova' here in Luck, it was fun!!!

PS- btw, I can't believe how short tall people make me look.... ;)
xoxoxo

Purl One, Knit One

I am an old soul, there are times when I think I have been born in the wrong time period! I am a nerd amongst my friends and quite happy to be one! I taught myself to knit two years ago and little by little I have been expanding my knitting pattern knowledge. This past year I taught myself to crochet (my Nana had taught me when I was younger, but I definitely needed a refresher!) and when I was at home this Christmas I went yarn hunting with my mom and picked out the colors for the Granny Square blanket I intend to make, with her discerning interior decorator's eyes at my side!

I have a few stores I buy yarn from here in England, one of my favorite being a little gem on Carnaby Street, or in Kingly Court, I should say.  My yarn tends to come from all over, I go for the feel and the color of it, I am sure I should think about ply and weight first, but right or wrong I go right for the textural and visual side of it.

I have used Lion Brand online as a resource tool when I am stuck on a particular stitch, they also have a wonderful supply of free patterns online too.  I have knitted with their yarn for some projects before and this was the yarn I chose when I was at home. I wanted something colorful, yet rich, warm, yet happy and a reasonable price for a project I was going to be experimenting with; so I selected a variety of colors to work from(an ebony black, a warming charcoal, a rich red, a deep purple, a soft cream and a velvety green-sounds odd, but trust me they all work together).

Sitting in the airport, the Saturday after New Years Day, sad to be leaving my family and watching the snow fall from the window, my adorable husband appeared with a cheering up gift in his hands from the magazine store.  A copy of the January 2010 issue of Martha Stewart. As I flipped through the pages I discovered inside an entire article on Lion Brand yarn (which he had already flipped through and seen and that was his entire reason for buying it, isn't that thoughtful? What a cutie!), and now I dream of walking in through those doors of the flagship store in New York, sad I know! I love the fact that there is a sampling wall to try out yarn and you can take yarn home with you to try out, there is a place where you can just sit and stitch and play, like a toy store for grown-ups!!

I want to take that lion in the window home with me, I love his twisted yarn mane, he is like a giant yarn made Aslan, guarding the store and all who step over the threshold.  I wanted to share some of the pictures from this article here.  Knitting is like yoga or gardening for me, it is therapeutic and on cold nights here it is something to keep my hands warm. I am looking forward to starting my blanket, this will be my first project that will be able to keep me warm as I go, I can't wait to get to the stage of it being so big it covers my lap as I work, but now, I am getting ahead of myself....

(All images copyright Martha Stewart Magazine)

Its Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas...at the 2009 Christmas Fair that is! The Fair was a great success, for all involved! It has taken me up to today to get my breath back! What a day! Everyone had so much fun and the Charity did really well.

I made 3 more little Christmas bags on Thursday night to bump my table out a bit more and I was going to make another one but my husband said he was unplugging my sewing machine if I didn’t stop, I just needed to rest. So, in fear of being unplugged, I snuggled up on the couch with him instead.

I could not sleep from all the excitement, I was up at 4 and it was a frosty morning when I left the house at 6:30. Everything was quiet and calm and it gave me a chance to collect my thoughts as I walked to the Fair.

The front porch was decorated so sweetly and that immediately put you in the Christmas mood. Upon entering the house, Christmas music was already going and Ella Fitzgerald was crooning you through the doorway. I made 3 Christmas mixer Cd’s a few years ago and that is what plays throughout the day, I was in dreamland getting to listen to Christmas music all day long.

After, putting the finishing touches on my table, I took the chance to look around everyone else’s stall, I oohed and aahed and began to do a little Christmas shopping of my own before the crowds arrived. A beautifully hand painted, "Twas the Night Before Christmas" sign, a vintage green trunk and a vintage school poster with a snowman scene were just a few of the treasures I found.

Lucky for me, my stand was next to the very sweet Penelope of RosaBlue. Everyone’s stall looked splendid! There was such a nice mixture of new things, antiques and homemade items, as a customer you were definitely spoiled for choice.

The day went by too quickly and as we were packing up, it was sad to think that I will not see some of my “fair” friends again until the Summer Fair or even next year’s Christmas Fair; but, to a cozy house we will all march to get warm by the Aga, enjoy a cup of tea, catch up with each other and spend a day of “work” just having fun!

I have a commission for my “Oh What Fun!” blanket, so I am off to cut out hearts and start stitching away in my own little world with some Christmas music in the background of course!

Oh What Fun!

I have spent the morning finishing up sewing together some bags for the Christmas Fair. I am all packed and ready to go now. I made this "Oh what fun!" blanket yesterday, so I hope that it sells.

This is always the hardest part for me, I want to sell things, but I get attached to the things I have made. I really enjoyed making the mittens for my ribbon garland, so I made some extra as ornaments or they could be used as a gift decoration.
I ran out of red thread last night, so all my little bags had to be sewn in green, but they still look Christmassy. I am off to move my bags to the door and get ready to head out of here, I am going to try and set up this afternoon, so there is less work to do in the morning. I can't wait to see everyone, lots of us have not seen each other since the Summer Fair, so there is a lot of catching up to do!

This is it! Here we go....Oh what fun!

Breakfast of Champions

This was my breakfast this morning! I can think of nothing better. Well... maybe if I had some chocolate cake to go with it! I have finished all the little tooth bears and Christmas bears (I know they are happy some have been very patiently waiting to be stitched together), gingerbread wreaths and ribbon garlands. I am now working on a blanket and I plan to make some bags this afternoon.

I am definitely on countdown! The fair is just 2 days away and there still seems like there is so much more to do! But, Shhh! don't tell anyone, I am ahead of schedule, so everything I am doing now are bonus items. I need to begin labeling things and start gathering together my tablecloths and display pieces I plan to use. This is really the exciting part!

Well, I'm off to stitch a little sleigh riding snow bunny onto a heart and maybe make another cup of hot chocolate. What could be better than hot chocolate, Christmas music and sewing cozy things on a sunny but frosty November morning? Right now I can't think of anything else.

Cozy Felt Mittens

I was saddened to say goodbye to Cornwall on Saturday, but, I have now jumped back into the full swing of things here. I spent most of yesterday creating a mitten pattern for some garlands I am making for the fair.

I finished the mittens last night and stitched “cozy” & “frosty” onto some antique white colored felt that I will cut out with my scallop edger and attach to a small felt pillow that will hang from the garland as well.
This is my project to finish today! I have 5 more little bears that need to be sewn up, I am done with my tooth bears, now I am working on my holiday bears and there is a little bear with holly on her pocket who has patiently been waiting to be stitched together.

The Christmas Fair on Friday will come faster than I can imagine, I am so excited! I am back to work as soon as I make myself a cup of hot chocolate with plenty of marshmallows to fuel my sewing fingers on this cold morning!

Everything is coming up Rosy with an Ice-Skating Afternoon

I have just received my Ice-Skating Afternoon kit from "Rosy Little Things", better known as: Posie Gets Cozy. If you have not come across Alicia Paulson, you are truly missing out on a very warm, witty, creative and cozy woman. I saw this kit last year when I first found her blog and I was saddened that she had completely sold out. Lucky for me, she sold the kits again this year with a new set of 3 ornaments, Walk in the Woods to coordinate with her previous designs.

I had the kit sent to my parent's house and as my Mom and I skyped, she
waved this adorable package in front of the screen, taunting me with cuteness. But, it will have to wait, I refuse to let her send it to me, because I have so much I am trying to complete for the Christmas Fair at the moment. Today, I am sealing my gingerbread wreaths. So, the kit will be my reward for finishing all my little tooth bears and Christmas bears and apple garlands and mitten garlands....

The kit was beautifully packaged and holds almost everything needed to make each ornament. Once it is is in my hands, I know I will just gaze at it for ages before I bring myself to start cutting up the gorgeous colored felt and snipping into pretty threads. Not only was everything so nicely packaged, it held within it a handwritten thank you, and it is those personal touches that make it truly special. Even though it is more work, when I create my pieces for the fair I like to make sure that all the items have personal touches from me; so, it is lovely when you meet other kindred spirits who do the same.
Unfortunately, Alicia has sold out of the kits for this season but she has informed me that in the next few days, PDF versions of the kit patterns will be available through her website. So keep checking there and on her blog for information, these are too cute to miss!

Now, my hardest decision will be which one to start with first? A pom-pom adorned ice skate, a warming cup of cocoa, or a Heidi-ish looking gingerbread girl? Please check out Alicia's site if you have not before, it always brings a smile to my face when I do!



(All images used are copyright to Alicia Paulson, Posie Gets Cozy)

To the Christmas Fair we go...

Over the river and through the woods to the Christmas Fair we go... I just received my form today for the Fair, so I am going to fill it out now to be sure a spot is held for me.

The fair will be held this year on November 6th. So, 4 short weeks from today, I better be ready. I am getting all my ideas together and I will be ordering my supplies tomorrow and then working like an elf to get everything done on time.

I have so many ideas, but I am going to narrow it down to just a few things to have on my table, and focus on those. My little tooth bears will be making an appearance and some will most likely be dressed for the season, 'tis the season to be jolly, as they say! I will have to start making my gingerbread wreaths soon, oh so much to do, but what fun it is!

I can't wait, for a crackling fire, warm tea, cozy things, homespun love and to be surrounded by friends. I can't think of a better way to get November started.

Summertime is Calling Me

As summer finally begins to wave her hand over this quaint part of the world, fetes begin to appear all over the countryside. They bring the young and old together to enjoy the festivities. Often outside, they take in the best that the English summer has to offer. Whatever the weather may be the fete soldiers on, oblivious to any thing that will put a damper on the day.

A local friend of mine puts on a fair twice a year to support a nearby charity. The summer fair is soon approaching at the beginning of June and I have been working away at the moment making all kinds of handmade items for my table.

There is a large selection for guests coming to the fair to choose from. Tables spill over with the sellers’ wares. Adorned in pretty tablecloths and vintage quilts, decorated with homemade bunting and tents, the fair is a chance for artists of all genres to come together and sell their goods. Some stalls feature established shop keepers with their tables overflowing with vintage treasures and baked goods; others feature those of us who use this an opportunity to sell items we have worked hard making over the past few months.

I usually have a bake sale table, but this year I am trying my hand at something different. I’m making a variety of items with a mixture of vintage and new materials. It will be a wonderful opportunity for me to see how well my items sell and I am hoping to make a more permanent business of this, selling on Etsy in the future. But, for now I will just have to be content with what opportunities the fair holds for me.